I was so honored to be included in this hangout! Join ME, several of my lovely associates, and our awesome CEO as we share with you our AMAZING and baby-friendly catalog of products.
Are you aware of all of the dangerous chemicals you’re loading onto and into your babies on a daily basis? GOOD NEWS – There is an alternative!!!
*around 30 minutes listen for a top secret reveal that is yet to be released!*
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This is the true story of how I became a stay at home mom (SAHM).
When I discovered I was pregnant with our 1st child I was working full-time as a part-time and fill in Speech Pathologist. Confusing, right? Basically, I worked 2 days a week for one company and occupied the rest of my days covering for sick leave, vacations, maternity, etc. for another company. My health insurance was covered by my husband’s job so I was free to make my own schedule and the pay was excellent. It was a dream set up! I worked in a variety of settings with a variety of patients and my days were never boring. I was EXCITED to get up and go to work each day. No REALLY, I loved my job!
I continued to work for most of my pregnancy (often retreating to my car to upchuck). Everyone was very understanding and accommodating. My plan was to work as much as possible for as long as possible to build up a good cushion in the bank for my planned 6 week leave after baby arrived…remember the “perk” I mentioned above about being on my hubby’s benefits…that meant no paid leave for yours truly.
Around the 7 month mark my body had had enough. I was beginning to depend on a cane for balance and a wheelchair for long distances…it was time to begin my leave.
I missed my coworkers, my patients, and the joy of helping others. I couldn’t wait to get back to work…
Then my daughter arrived…
When my 6 week “deadline” arrived, I was not ready to leave my baby girl…so I stayed home another few weeks. Things were slow at my part-time gig so I decided to return there first. I had family willing to step up for childcare, so that was a bit of stress I was able to avoid.
My new return day came and off I went, breast pump in hand, back to work. It was good to be back in the “real world” for a few hours…
…I was miserable. I was torn between guilt for leaving my baby and the duty of being a strong role model for her and contributing to the household income. Mix in feelings of responsibility to my patients and for their well being…and…well…I was a disaster…or just a normal hormonal new mom returning to work…
I ended up making a bit of a compromise by transferring to an office closer to home with the the higher paying of the 2 companies and agreeing to work no more than 2-3 days per week. It was still a pay cut, but we adjusted our household budget and were able to still live comfortably.
However, remember how I mentioned above that I was “excited” to go to work each day…well, I had lost that loving feeling, woh-o that loooving feeeeling…now it’s gone, gone, gone woh-o-woh-o-oh
Two years later I found out that I was pregnant with our second. This time, we decided we’d figure out a way to make it primarily on my husband’s income.
We moved to a house in need of less upkeep, got a better mortgage, and I began working from home in direct sales.
The transition from being a “work outside the home mom” to a “network marketing SAHM” was not as easy as I anticipated. However, I decided to choose a company that promoted healthy living so I could feel like I was still perusing my original mission of taking care of people, there was just a lot less paperwork. š
The 1st company I chose to work with paid well, but ended up not being as “healthy” as they claimed to be. After a bit of research into their ingredients and my son’s allergic reaction to my breastmilk when I consumed the “safe” products…I resigned.
I was ready to give up on the idea of promoting with a direct sales company all together. And that’s ok. I learned a lot. In the end, it was important to me to promote for a company that shared my values and desire to educate and help others.
Fast forward a few weeks…
As many of you know, my son suffers with severe eczema and an allergy to dairy. A family member introduced me to the Essante Organics line of organic baby products and dairy and soy free organic protein shakes. I tried the products and quickly became a lifelong fan.
I couldn’t wait to try the entire catalog! When I found out Essante was a direct sales company it was a no brainer and I was back in the game.
Our home is now filled with Essante products…stuff for the kids, skin care, nutrition, alkalizing products, essential oils. I really had no idea how many products I had and used every day until I made to video below. I guess Essante is just so integrated into our lives now that it’s just become part of our routine. This was a huge revelation for me as I always feel like our journey to live an organic lifestyle is moving so slowly. I guess we’ve made it a lot further than I thought!
Another thing I love about Essante is that, as a company, we strive to educate others about living a healthy and organic lifestyle 1st. Emphasis on promoting products comes second.
Essante inspired me to follow through with my 4 year dream of bringing this blog to life and provided me with the tools and knowledge to make it successful. Our emphasis on education drove me to obtain my certification as a Lactation Counselor (CLC) (What’s more organic than breastmilk, right?). Essante has given this workaholic SAHM an outlet to help and inspire others while earning a paycheck.
I’m not sure what the future holds for me as a Speech Pathologist or CLC, but for now I have recaptured my excitement to “go to work” each morning as a mom, a blogger, and an Essante executive.
What gets you out of bed each morning?
If you would like more information about Essante, please leave me a comment below or visit www.EssanteMama.com.
The Baby Kātan Baby Carrier is a soft hybrid carrier that offers the ideal blend of a sling and wrap. Its innovative double-loop design allows mom or dad to wear baby in multiple positions, without any complicated wrapping or buckling! It is lightweight and compact, yet ergonomically designed to distribute baby’s weight across both shoulders. Retail value: $49.95. www.babyktan.com
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As Iāve mentioned in a previous post, itās difficult for me to carry my babies unless I am wearing them. I have always been envious of those moms who snuggled with their babies in a simple wrap carrier, but wrapping and tying them one handed never seemed doable. I even tried a few slings, but have yet to find a comfortable option. Hence, Iāve always felt limited to soft structured carriers (SSC) like the Boba and Ergo.
Then…
I was introduced to the Baby Kātan while shopping at my local baby boutique, A Nurturing Moment. The owner, Glenni, is familiar with my need for adaptability and encouraged me to try the Baby Kātan with her weighted display doll to see if it might be an acceptable adaptable option.
After playing around with the doll in a few different carries, I decided the Kātan might be worthy of further review.
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Little did I know, it would become one of my daily essentials!
Hug Position
My son is a snuggler and demands human contact most of the day and night. I love this about him…itās so nice to feel needed. However, it means that blogging and keeping up with housework must often take a backseat.
I tried wearing him in one of my SSCās around the house and it worked well, but it was difficult to get the timing right. It’s a bit cumbersome to wear a SSC all day while baby is playing or eating just to be able to quickly pop him in it when he starts to get fussy or show feeding cues. I found that if I waited until he was ready to be held before I put the carrier on, I’d just forgo the whole thing and end up sitting with him and my Boppy.
My Baby Kātan solved all of those issues. I can toss my Kātan around my neck at a moments notice. Iāve even worn it across my chest in preparation to grab baby and go when he starts working up a fuss. It’s about like wearing a scarf, lightweight and soft.
My son may still fuss a bit while getting situated, but no more waiting on mommy to get settled with my Boppy…oh, and my iPad…and I’ll need a water…and maybe a snack…and, crap, I better go pee first because he may sleep for hours.
The K’tan allows me to stay mobile and hands free while my son nurses and naps to his heart’s content.
So here’s the breakdown…
Ease of use:
There is a learning curve. The Baby K’tan consists of two large loops of fabric connected by a small loop and a separate sash. This can be a bit daunting for a mom who is new to babywearing. Luckily, Baby K’tan offers a free step by step guide with pictures and easy to follow instructions for each of the 6 positions. There are also how-to videos on the Baby K’tan YouTube channel, as well as, my adaptive videos below to help you get started.
Mommy Comfort:
The K’tan is super comfy. No buckles, no straps, and balanced weight distribution across your shoulders and back. For me and my 19 lb tank of a son, this is not my all day carrier. My back starts getting fatigued after a few hours even while sitting. However, if I had found this option when he was a newborn, I could see myself easily wearing him for full day outings. Also, as you’ll see below, I am able to comfortably and safely carry my 32 lb three and a half year old with my K’tan in the hip position. This can come in handy when we are out and about, as I can carry one and push the other in the stroller.
A quick adaptive note, a good stroller can offer a bit extra balance and support while baby wearing on the go. I’ll discuss this at length another day, but thought I’d mention it here as well.
Baby Comfort:
I love, love, love this carrier for baby comfort. Baby is able to move and stretch against the fabric while still staying safe and cozy next to you.
My son has eczema that often flares behind his knees and this is the ONLY carrier we’ve tried that does not cause pressure and rub spots where his legs rest and meet the fabric.
Breastfeeding:
(I’m actually writing this section while nursing) We love breastfeeding in our Baby K’tan. The stretchy fabric snuggles him close and is lightweight and cool enough for baby to stay comfy. Initially, I was concerned that my Baby K’tan was going to carry him too high to comfortably nurse, but once he settled into the hug position breastfeeding was a breeze. I am able to nurse sitting or standing. Due to my right sided weakness, I could never dream of nursing standing without a carrier.
If modesty is your concern, nursing in public in your Baby K’tan can be very discrete…as you may note in one of the videos below.
The Downside:
Sizeability: You must buy the size that fits you so it can be difficult to share with another caregiver. On the flip side, this is the trade off for no straps or buckles…and sometimes it’s nice to have something in the house that you don’t have to share. š
Weight Distribution: I must watch my posture in this carrier. Unlike an SSG which places some of baby’s weight on your hips, the K’tan (and any other wrap or sling carrier) distributes baby’s weight throughout your shoulders and back. For this reason, my K’tan has become my at home and quick in and out errands carrier. It is ideal for doctor’s visits, managing baby between the car and shopping cart, and nursing in public.
The Positions:
Hug Position: My favorite for my little one. Ideal for breastfeeding.
Two-Hip Position: Good for shifting baby’s weight when fatigue is an issue.
Adventure Position: We’ve attempted this hold a few times, but my son is not a fan of facing out. Babywearers should use caution when wearing a baby forward facing because it can cause extra stress to the back and shoulders due to the way the baby’s weight is distributed and carried vs. the way it’s distributed when baby is snuggled close and “wrapped around” facing your body. It’s also important to remember to support the baby’s legs and hips when forward facing. Fortunately, the K’tan allows for this needed support by enabling the wearer to widen the base of the carrier/ fabric so that it cradles the child and gives full support to his hips and spine. See Owner’s Manual p.9
Explore Position: I prefer this position to the Adventure position, but my son is almost too large at 19lbs to pull it off.
The Adventure and Explore positions may be ideal for wheelchair users that need extra security holding their little one while using hands to ambulate their chair.
Hip Position: Great for hauling a larger child. I also use this position with my son for a quick assist, but it’s not entirely hands free and thus not ideal for this one-handed wearer.
Is it wrong to want another baby just so I can try the Newborn Kangaroo Position? š
With so many position options this carrier is ideal for adapting to the caregiver’s individual babywearing needs.
Baby K’tan helped me be gain independence through adaptive babywearing and I hope it will do the same for you!
In honor of Independence Day, I am offering one lucky winner a free Baby K’tan in your choice of size and color. The contest begins at midnight tonight (6/20/13) and will run through July 5th. Please share this post and submit your entries above. Good Luck!
Adaptive Baby Wearing
This part applies to all carriersā¦whatever works for you:
My tip for any mom with limited mobility or just new to baby wearing: Find a place to sit. It is 10x easier and safer getting a baby or toddler in carrier while seated. At home, I prefer the couch for extra wiggle room. When out and about, I get baby situated in the carrier while sitting in the car or on a park bench.
To unload your baby: Simply sit and lay baby in your lap or bend over a chair, car seat and gently lay baby down and slide him out of the carrier. Once baby is situated in his next destination (car seat, floor, Dadās arms) take the carrier off.
As with all things adaptive, do whatever works for you. Every body is different. Find what adaptations work best for you and your baby. My goal is to demonstrate the adaptive possibilities of the carrier, the rest is up to you!
Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I purchased a Baby Kātan carrier at a discount for the purpose of this review. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.
I only review products that I’ve found to be adaptable through personal experience or that I have researched and tried for the purpose of adaptive review.
Amazon links are affiliate links.
For me, baby wearing is the equivalent of carrying my child. Secondary to my disability, I am unable to carry my kids āthe old fashioned wayā for any length of time simply because I need my only functional arm and hand for things like opening doors, getting a drink, picking a wedgie, wiping noses, and well, you get the point. Strength, balance, and endurance are also issues since I am only able to carry my kids on my left hip.
Iāve tried many different carriers with my kiddos over the years. After much trial and error, my go to carrier is a heavily padded performance Soft Structured Carrier (SSC) simply because of the extra security, comfort, and accessibility that it offers. However, it can be miserable to wear out during steamy southern summers. I was in need of an alternative solution for my clingy must-always-be-held baby boy.
After a bit of research, I decided to give the new BobaAir a try.
Here are a few of the features that attracted me:
Compact and self-storing: This carrier only weighs 0.7lbs and folds up into itself for easy storageā¦Just like that cool windbreaker I had in college!
Diversity: The BobaAir is a SSC that offers front and back carry and that is intended for children between 15-45lbs.
Durability: It is made of 100% Nylon and therefore easy to clean and extremely durable.
Sleeping Hood and Pocket: Like many SSCs, the BobaAir includes a sleeping hood and a large pocket to store your hood in when not in use. The hood can be used to protect your little one from sun or rain, or to provide a cover when they are nursing or taking a nap.
Sizeability: The BobaAir is designed to fit parents of all shapes and sizes. All straps are fully adjustable and have those handy little elastic bands so you can comfortably tuck the straps away once you have the carrier comfortably adjusted. AKA: MY HUSBAND CAN ALSO HELP CARRY THE LOAD!
The Trial:
Our first BobaAir outing lasted about 2 hours, included some indoor/outdoor time, a lot of standing, a bit of walking, breastfeeding, and sitting whenever I needed a break.
Sizing and buckling were similar to that of my performance SSC and very accessible. In fact, the centered buckles (standard for Boba) may even be a bit easier to manage than other SSCs that have a static side and adjustable side usually making them right handed.
The minimalist BobaAir actually made wearing my 19lb son a bit easier since the carrier itself weighs virtually nothing. As far as adaptability, this is an EXCELLENT feature!
Usually, after wearing my son for any length of time in my heavier SSC, our shirts will be damp with sweat and I worry about him becoming overheated. After 2 hours in the BobaAir, our shirts were dry and my son was cool as a cucumber.
The BobaAir really IS cooler.
Mommy Comfort:
Initially, I was a bit skeptical of this carrier due to the lack of padding. However, once adjusted correctly, I found the BobaAir almost as comfortable as my go-to padded soft carrier.
My right-sided weakness means very little natural padding through my right shoulder and I found myself adjusting the shoulder strap around my boney collarbone multiple times. Fortunately, this can easily be remedied by using an extra teething pad or doubled piece of cloth as a shoulder pad when needed.
Baby comfort:
My son was definitely cooler, but there is a tradeoff. With no padding, the backs of his legs and behind his knees had some pressure marks. The marks quickly faded once out of the carrier and no raw spots were noted.
On that note, let me mention the eczema perspective for a moment. As any eczema mom knows, heat is a big issue. I would most definitely recommend this carrier for itās lightweight properties. However, be warned that the nylon, although cool, is not very soft. I would recommend putting baby in lightweight clothing that covers his/her highly prone eczema hot spots to protect from rubbing irritation, but you probably already do that anyway, right?
Breastfeeding:
The BobaAir is a dream for breastfeeding mums. Without any padding to get in the way, the breathable nylon keeps baby cool and ready to nurse. I will say that the āsleeping hoodā falls a bit short as a nursing cover as compared to my other SSC, but I think the benefits far out weigh this one minor infraction.
Summary:
Despite the BobaAirās minimalist appearance, I am able to carry my 19lb son comfortably for limited intervals. This is not an all day carrier. I will continue to use it for summer outings, church, and travel and I believe it will be ideal for flying.
As an added bonus, I was also able to give my 33lb daughter a piggyback ride for the VERY 1st TIME! That single experience put this carrier near the top of my list.
*A word of caution when using this carrier, if you are having trouble getting the straps adjusted comfortably CALL BOBA. Their customer service is excellent and ready to help. Initially, I spent 3 days playing around with my BobaAir trying to get everything comfortably situated. Come to find out that my carrier was defective. Total fluke! If Iād just called Boba to begin with, I may have realized this before I subjected my son and self to so much frustration. Once I contacted Boba to discuss my concerns, I had a replacement BobaAir within 48 hrs as well as a shipping label to return my 1st carrier free of charge to Boba. They assured me that they would be examining the defective carrier to remedy potential future issues. My replacement carrier adjusted quickly and comfortably on the 1st try.
Adaptive Baby Wearing
This part applies to all carriersā¦whatever works for you:
My tip for any mom with limited mobility or just new to baby wearing: Find a place to sit. It is 10x easier and safer getting a baby or toddler in carrier while seated. At home, I prefer the couch for extra wiggle room. When out and about, I get baby situated in the carrier while sitting in the car or on a park bench. Just fasten and adjust the belt before getting baby out of his car seat or stroller.
To unload your baby: Simply bend over a chair, car seat, or bed, unbuckle my chest strap, and gently lay baby down and slide him out of the carrier. Once baby is situated in his next destination (car seat, floor, Dadās arms) take the carrier off and tuck it back into itself.
To unload your toddler: Find a deep enough seat for you both to sit and carefully let her out of the carrier.
As with all things adaptive, do whatever works for you. Every body is different. Find what adaptations work best for you.
How have you adapted baby wearing to fit your needs?
Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I was provided a BobaAir for the purposes of this review. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.
I only review products that I’ve found to be adaptable through personal experience or that I have researched and tried for the purpose of adaptive review.
Amazon links are affiliate links.
I know I’ve mentioned this product before, but there are just so many reasons to love Essante Sanitizer.
As you guys know, I love playing around with cloth diapers and the endless combinations one can create with the right pieces.
So yesterday, I put my son in a pad and cover in an attempt to gain more confidence in my ability to position everything correctly on my fidgety baby.
I must have done something right, because the diaper held through a 3+ hour nap with no leaks!
So anywho, back to my point…After I changed the soaked pad and laid the cover out to dry, I had an idea…Why not spray the cover with Essante Sanitizer. It’s chemical free, it’s easy, and it will extend the life of my diapers. Sure I could wipe the cover down with a baby wipe, but would I really be getting rid of the germs that can potentially cause odor…or just wiping them around?
Just as I expected, the cover was fresh, dry and ready to be worn again at next diaper change.
Here’s the best part…This stuff is safe enough to spray directly on baby! Works on diaper rash and booboos, helps with ear infections, spray in nose to head off a cold, and it even sanitizes toys, pacifiers, and breast pump parts!
This spray is a mama’s best friend.
Essante Sanitizer
Even as I’m writing this post, I’m chasing my sneezy snotty daughter around spraying it in her nose and on everything she sneezes on. My son scraped his knuckles this morning, Lord only knows how, so he is getting sprayed as well.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a huge vinegar lover for household cleaning and disinfecting. I’m just saying there are some things, like my baby’s bottom, that I would prefer not to smell like salt and vinegar chips.
The ingredients in this stuff are simple:
Purified water, stabilized active oxygen, sodium cocoyl glutamate (derived from coconut oil & glutamate amino acid), and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).
It’s so mild and gentle that I can spray it directly on my son’s diaper rash and eczema flare ups to soothe and prevent infection.
Essante Laundry Liquid Concentrate
For diapers, I also add a scoop or 1/4 cup of baking soda just to give the diapers that extra bit of freshness. Works like a charm. All our diapers are clean, fresh, and stain free.
Happy Baby + Clean Dry Bum = One Less Thing for This Mama to Worry About!
My son, Chase, has a wicked dairy allergy resulting in horrible eczema.
He was about 4 months old when the eczema manifested itself. He had always suffered from digestive issues, which I later discovered were linked to the daily whey protein shakes that I was drinking (talk about feeling guilty!), but no abnormal skin issues to speak of.
At Chase’s 4 month check up His peditrician refered us to a dermatologist. The dermatologist diagnosed Chase with eczema, impetigo, and infantile seborrheic dermatitis or cradle cap. He sent us home with a prescription for an antibiotic for the impetigo and several recommendations for over-the-counter creams as well as two prescription lotions. Nothing really seem to help.
In February, I was introduced to Essante Organics. Essante not only offeres an organic protein shake that is soy, dairy, and gluten free, but they also have a 100% organic baby line. Desperate to help our son, we ordered their baby wash and baby lotion immediately. With the use of these products Chase’s eczema cleared up in three days. I still have to avoid dairy and know every ingredient in the food I eat and introduce to him, but the hardest part of the battle was over…or so I thought…
*Update*
We have now added Essante Sanitizing Spray to our eczema regime. This spray is powerful enough to sanitize my diaper covers, yet safe and gentle enough to spray on raw scratched spots.
Unfortunately, since Chase spent most of his early months scratching, it had become a habit. He had learned that scratching would get my attention and often lead to nursing for comfort (smart kid, right?). Any gains we made were often lost due to scratching and irritating his fragile skin.
We were unable to find long sleeve onesies with fold over sleeves in the larger sizes that my son needed. We tried mittens with velcro and even homemade ones with secured draw strings, but as a seven-month old Chase became very skilled at taking them off. Not to mention, mittens can be very difficult to put on a protesting active baby and even more so, wrestling him down with one hand in the dark at 2am.
Then we found Scratch Me Not.
ScratchMeNots are a uni sleeve or cardigan type contraption with fold over mittens that can be worn year round. Each ScratchMeNot is made in the USA from a Bamboo/Cotton blend. The mittens also have a silk outer layer that provides reduced friction against the skin..
ScratchMeNots come in sizes up to 3T. However, should you need a size that is not listed, they will create one especially for you!
I love this company and I have been very pleased with their customer service, as well as, the products.
Thanks to ScratchMeNot, my son is sleeping better and I am not waking up to pulled hair and fresh scratches (on Chase and myself) each morning.
And lest we forget the adaptive part…this alternative to traditional mittens is a lifesaver when it comes to putting them on a squirmy baby. No more fastening and tightening or wrestling to put them back on. I simple put his ScratchMeNot on like a jacket and fold over the mitten cuffs. Easy peasy! Chase has yet to figure out how to get out of his ScratchMeNot and I don’t foresee that becoming a problem as long as I keep him in the right size.
****Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. I was not required to give a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own. I am an executive with Essante Organics and only receive compensation through their outlined system (sales, bonuses, commissions, etc).
